Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Our professional racing history started with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad today. Seven of the team took the start of the race which turned out to be raced in the traditional way; Steady start….then all hell breaks loose as the peloton hits the 3rd and 4th hill.

The team rode well, and was very well positioned. Around kilometre 60, bad luck hit the team as both Sara and Lucy hit the same traffic island (No injuries other that to their front tyres), leading to punctures, just as all of the team cars were held up with diversions, effectively putting them out of the chase despite having made the front of the race.

Molly Weaver and Christina Siggaard were left at the front, with Molly very close to connecting to the front select group. She ended up in a virtual solo chase for 30kms with Jolien D`Hoore as a passenger as she had teammates up the road.

While Christina’s chase faded and she eventually finished in 99th, Molly kept chasing and the caught first Slappendel, then Canuel. Despite the huge efforts of Slappendel who had originally lost contact with the front group due to a bike problem, the gap to the front was too big, and Molly had to settle with leading home her group for 30th.

“It was a fantastic performance. We told the riders it was a no stress racing situation, just go out there and show us what you can do. Molly really did and to be riding the last 40km’s or so with the Belgian and Dutch champions must have been a very special moment. We’re really pleased with her, and the other riders, who’ve all raced with positivity and adapted to the new team and environment well. We can all look forward to Wednesday’s race with some good expectations.” said team manager Stefan Wyman

“It’s so great to finally have started the season with the girls. Bit of a mixed bag today with good and bad luck. Still we managed to really bond like a team. Great that Molly was up at the front end of the race” Lucy Martin

“It was good to do my first proper classics race with this team and the girls. We had a lot of support for each other in the bunch which was really good and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.” Mel Lowther